Every day women and girls in the South West Pacific are being Educated, Enabled and Empowed by projects instigated by women just like yourself, who call themselves Soroptimists. These women from 13 Countries located in the South West Pacific work on projects focused on education, empowerment,and the creation of enabling opportunities to improve the lives and status of women and girls.

In 2015 members of Soroptimist International South West Pacific have spent over $929,000 on over 500 projects which have directly benefited 22,000 women and girls.

This action demonstrates the "Think Globally, Act Locally", does make a DIFFERENCE to the lives of women and girls

Soroptimists seek not only to help the victims of social inequalities and human rights abuses but also to address the social, environmental and economic factors that are root causes. They research, discuss and have carefully considered positions on major issues of global concern. Soroptimist International of the South West Pacific has special consultative status to the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ESCOC) has recognised status as a Non-Government Organisation (NGO) with a broad range of expertise and a comprehensive agenda. This allows our collective efforts and opinions to be shared with a wider community and makes us an effective global voice for women.

Awareness Advocacy Action

Soroptimist members are encouraged to raise their own and others' Awareness of issues of global concern affecting women and girls. Soroptimist Advocate for policy commitments and social changes that will improve the status of women and promote sustainable communities.

NGOs like Soroptimist International of the South West Pacific have been influential in shaping the current global policy framework on women’s empowerment and gender equality, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, and are effective advocates for the fulfilment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). They continue to play an important role in holding international and national leaders accountable for the commitments they made in the Platform for Action.

Soroptimist Position on Global Issues

Soroptimist International has developed a series of position statements on issues of global concern. These have been developed with broad consultation of the membership and represent the collective opinion of the membership on issues of major importance. Full copies of these statements are published in a document titled "Where We Stand". Copies of this can be downloaded from Soroptimist International Where We Stand

In developing position statements, Soroptimist International often supports the principles outlined in such international treaties and conventions as:

The Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs);

The Platform for Action for Women;

The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women, including the Optional Protocol;

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights;

The Convention of the Rights of the Child;

Agenda 21

Soroptimists are encouraged to become aware of the content of such documents and advocate for implementation of policies and legislation which support the principles contained in these documents.

Educate, Empower, Enable

Through Project work, Soroptimists work at their local and national level on projects which meet the 8 objectives of Education, Elimination of violence, Economic empowerment, Food security, Healthcare, Environmental sustainability/water and sanitation, Conflict resolution/peace promotion, Disaster relief, mitigation and resilience, the work achieved through these projects provides opportunities to Educate, Empower and Enable women and girls to plan for their future, allows for their economic growth and opens doors to their dreams.

CSW61 was the greatest gathering of women’s organisations since the Beijing Platform for Action and the United Nations buildings and their surrounds were a blaze of colour mixed with the formal suits of male employees and a true cacophony of languages. All this occurred against a background of bitter cold, snow caked streets and the noises of traffic and sirens that epitomise a giant city.

Soroptimists Educate, Enable and Empower women by providing the opportunities for women to fulfil their dreams.Education prepares women and girls to plan for their future, and allows for their economic growth and opens doors to their dreams. Educate a women and you educate a whole family.

Every year Soroptimists from the South West Pacific provide bursaries and scholarships for women to continue their education. Below you will find links to the many scholarships provided each year, click on the link for further information for each of the scholarships.

Australia

New South Wales/ACT

Canberra, ACT - Minmahaw Education Foundation, Mae Sot, Thailand

Scholarship to allow women to continue their education. For more information contact SI Canberra. Closing date for applications 30th June.

To provide start up costs to a girl commencing TAFE or University. For more information contact SI Griffith.

Queensland

Beenleigh, QLD - Stella Rickhoff Award for Emerging Leaders

Award to women in the Beenleigh District who have contributed to their community through volunteering to advance women and girls.

Must be a female and working or contributing to advance the status of women in their work or volunteering role. Award Certificate and $500.00 towards the Charity of their choice.For more information contact SI Beenleigh. Closing date for applications is 30th October.

Redlands, QLD - University Scholarship

Provide scholarship to a girl/women attending university. For more information contact SI Bayside.

Gold Coast, QLD - Beth Taylor Education Scholarship

Provide a scholarship to a mature aged women to assist with the cost of tertiary study. For more information contact SI Gold Coast.

Western Australia

Albany, WA - South Regional TAFE - Female Student of the Year Award

Recognition of an outstanding female student who has demonstrated herself to be a true all-rounder showing leadership in her community and outstanding results in her field of endeavour - annually in March

Albany, WA - Girl Guides Bursary

Soroptimist International Albany’s bursary of $500 to provide financial help to Girl Guides within the Greater Southern Region. The bursary would be available to Guides within the region and meet the specified criteria:

Perth, Western Australia - SIWA - Stella Giles Award for Achievement

This scholarship is a prize presented to a WA women for her to undertake a project that aligns with the goals and objectives of our organisation. Applications must be made through and supported by a WA Club. To view the criteria please visit www.Soroptimists-wa.org.au - held every two years - next award 2019

South Perth, WA - Sports Scholarship

To enable children to attend sporting clubs, camps etc. For more information contact SI South Perth.

THE DAME MARGARET BLACKWOOD SOROPTIMIST SCHOLARSHIPThe Dame Margaret Blackwood Soroptimist Scholarship is to assist a post-graduate student of Genetics in plants, animals or viruses. The scholarship was established to honour Dame Margaret Blackwood, after her death in June, 1986. An eminent scholar in the field of genetics and plant cytology, as well as an eminent Soroptimist, Dame Margaret Blackwood became the first female Deputy Chancellor of the University of Melbourne in 1980. It is through this university that the scholarship is offered and administered. The scholarship is awarded by the Council of the University at such intervals and for such periods as it may determine on the recommendation of a selection committee consisting of:• the Dean of the Faculty of Science or nominee• the Professor of Genetics or nominee• a representative of SISWP.Applications are invited by notices on University and Faculty notice boards and Soroptimist magazines. The first scholarship was awarded in 1991

At the end of each year Soroptimist International of Port Pirie awards a scholarship of $200 to a senior female student in each of the three secondary schools in Port Pirie. They are given to a student demonstrating leadership skills and academic excellence. For more information contact SI Port Pirie.

New Zealand

Christchurch, NZ - Soroptimist Music Scholarship

Provided to a primary aged school child. For more information contact SI Christchurch.

Christchurch, NZ - Betty Loughhead Soroptimist Scholarship

This scholarship is open to women in New Zealand who are New Zealand Citizens over the age of 25 years on October 1st. Mature applicants are welcome.Preference will be given to applicants who have a proven record of academic achievement, have commenced a course of study, or are near completion. The training or retraining to be a academic course offered by a recognised educational provider within New Zealand.The scholarship is available annually. The CLOSING DATE IS OCTOBER 1ST.For more information contact The Betty Loughhead Trust.

Gore, NZ - SI Gore President's Scholarship

This scholarship is a cash one and can be used for books and/or tuition fees and/or travel. It is only available to young women from the local community leaving the area for further study. For more information contact SI Gore.

Subcategories

Soroptimist members from the South West Pacific volunteer to improve the lives of women and girls through projects identified at the local level (their clubs), these projects work to Educate, Empower and Enable the recipients (women and girls), they lead to social and economic empowerment.